Erasing machine



April 19, 1938. E. w. BlLLlNGs, JR 2,114,462

ERASING MACHINE Filed April 2o, 1955 s sheets-sheet 1 April 19, 193s.

ERAS ING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/1111111111111l INl/ENTOR A TT ORNE April i9, 1938. yEl W. BILLINGS, .1R 2,114,462

` ERASING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr.19, 193s 2,114,462

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERASING MACHINE Everett W. Billings, Jr.,Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 20, 1935, Serial No. 17,519

4 Claims. (01.' 101-1) My invention relates to a method by which nuaseach card passes through it the munbers are merals or other printing maybe erased preparaerased, preparing the cards for re-numbering and toryto re-printing and with the object of proenabling the cards to be usedrepeatedly. viding means whereby the cards or other stock While I havenot shown any detailed method 5 may be used repeatedly. In particularthis methof re-printing of the numbers, it is myintention 5 od involvesthe preliminary printing of an area to add to the machine a numberingdevice which on the cards with a non-absorbent ink or chemiwillre-number the cards after the erasure of the cal, preferably of a colorin contrast to the color Old number has been made. of the card. On thisarea are printed any desired My invention has several distinct functionsand l0 numerals or other symbols, this printing being suitablemechanisms for producing the same. 10 done with an ink or other materialof a character First: A receptacle is provided in which the cards whichcan be readily dissolved by the applicato be erased are stacked. Second:An intermittion of a suitable solvent. It will generally be tent cardstop which releases one card at a time. found advantageous to apply thissolvent by Third: An intermittent feed mechanism which means of amechanism which employs simulfeeds one card at a time out of thereceptacle 15 taneously a pressing and a rubbing action. and on throughthe erasing mechanism. Fourth:

Many different mechanical means may be de- An erasing mechanism,including a pressure roll. vised to apply the process above outlined,and Fifth: A ribbon which is moistened with an erasamong these and forthe purpose of illustration I ing SOlVen, and Wllieh adVanCeS aS eachCard iS have elected to describe the machine shown in the fed through SOes 130 preSent e freshly mOiSlened accompanying drawings as one of thepractical surface as each card passes between the ribbon 20 applicationsof the above process, and the pressure roll. If desired a brush or swabThis mechanism relates to that class of mamay be prOVided t0 Clean theribbon after each chines which are commonly termed business maerasure.chines and is designed to perform certain op- I illustrate my inventionby Ineens 0f the 25 erations on cards used in connection withmaaccompanying dreWiIlgS in Wheh Figure 1 iS e chines for compilingstatistical data and also i010 plan 0f the rneehne. Figure 2 iS a Sideelefor filing and indexing purposes. In many of Vaton with the front ofthe case and the adjathese business systems cards are used, on whichcent septum removed. Figure 3 iS a i011 plan are stamped certain ling orkey numbers. This with the cover plate removed. Figure 4 is a cross- 30numbering is usually done with a hand number- Section taken 0n the lineX-X in Figure l. Figing machine and the ink generally used in such ure 5is a cross-section taken on the line Y-Y in machines penetrates thematerial of the card and Figure 1- Figure 6 iS a detail Showing themethis practically impossible to erase. The inab-ility 0d 0f SuDDOrtingthe ribbOu- Figure 7 iS a detail to erase or change the number on thecard pre- Showing the method of actuating the ribbOn- 35 vents the cardfrom being used more than onse, Figure 8 is a detail side elevation ofthe intermitand as some offices use many thousands of such tent feed andpressure roll mechanism and also cards monthly, and if the key numbercould be shows an alternate construction of the actuating erased andre-printed as many times as the life mechanism. Figure 9 is a plan Viewof Figure 8.

4o of the card stock would permit, great economy Figure 10 is a view ofthe card with the dark spot 4 would result in the yearly expenditure forsuch and a key number before eraSuI'e- Figure 11 iS e 0 cards. sideelevation of a moistening roll which may be As a preliminary operationprior to the use of used instead of a ribbon. Similar figures refer myinvention, a dark or black spot is printed on to similar parts in theseveral views. v the card, such printing forming a surface on Theconstruction of my device is as follows: 45

which the key numbers can be printed in white The mechanism is enclosedin a case I5, having or other contrasting color and preventing the aremovable bottom plate I6 and a cover plate II. numbering ink frompenetrating the material of Within the case I5 are two longitudinalseptums the card. I8, designed to furnish a means of attachment Theprimary purpose of my invention is to profor the various parts. Thebottom plate I6 is 50 vide a machine which will automatically removeremovable to provide access to the ribbon and or erase the said keygures, thus preparing the other parts, and to the tank I9 containing thecard for the re-printing with a new number or solvent. On top and at oneend of the cover plate symbol. With the means provided by this ma- I'Iis a receptacle 20 adapted to receive a numchine the cards are fedthrough the machine and ber of the cards I4 stacked one above another.55

' 'mittent feed-roll 22 is provided with a uni- Under the receptacle 28is an aperture 2l which permits the intermittent feed-roll 22 to contactthe bottom card. Mounted on top of the cover plate I1 are the feed-rolljaws 23 having adjustably mounted therein the journals 24 of thefeedrolls 25 and 25a. The degree of pressure is regulated by the screws25 and the springs 21. The feed-rolls 25 and 25a are covered with afriction material 29 such as rubber. Underneath the cover plate I1 arethe brackets 39 in which are journaled the feed-rolls 3! and Sla, whichare also covered with friction material 32. Thefeedrolls SI and Sla areso located that their peripheries contact the under side ci thefeed-rolls 25 and 25d', through apertures in the cover plate I1.Rotatably mounted on the shafts of the feed-rolls 3i and Sla are securedthe pulleys l33. The pulleys 33 are connected to each other and drivenby the belts 34. These pulleys and the under feed rolls may be driven byvarious means, but as shown in Figure 2 the driving mechanism consistsof a motor 35 and a drive pulley 39 belt-connected to a speed reductionpulley 35 and the pulleys 31 and 38. In the gear drive mechanism shownin Figure 3, the motor 35 drives the pulley 35 by means of the pulley39. On the same shaft d4 with the pulley SI5 is a pulley Il which drivesthe pulley 5I by means of the belt 55. The pulley 9i is secured tothe'feed-rolls 3l and Sia, and securedto the opposite end of the saidfeedrolls are Abevel gears 42. Each of the feed-rolls 3! and Sla `aresimilarly provided with bevel gears 62 which mesh with the bevel pinions43, the latter being mounted on the shaft d5. The extension of the shaft#l5 which drives the interversal joint SI.

The intermittent feed mechanism consists of the lever arms 46,fulcrurned at l1 to the septums I8, and carrying a pin or roll 48adapted to function in the slot i9 of the cam 59. The said cam is drivenby a belt 5I from the pulley 52 which is on the same shaft with thepulley 36. At the ends lof the levers l5 adjacent to the cam a pin 55engages a slot in the clevised ends of the intermittent feed-roll levers55. These levers y are fulcrumed on the septurns I8 at the point '56 andat the other extremity have journaled therein the intermittent.feed-roll 22, which intermittently contacts the cards through anaperture 2l in the cover plate I1. Mounted on the coverplate I1 are thebrackets 51 having fulcrumed therein the levers 58; one end of the saidlevers being connected to the levers by means of the link 49, the otherends having journaled therein the pressure-roll 69.. This roll iscovered with a friction material having a slight degree ofcompressibility.

In lthe modied form of the intermittent motion as shown in Figure 8 thecam 5D is omitted and instead there is a disc 52 carrying a pin androller 53k which as it is rotated engages the foot 65 which is integralwith or attached to the levers.

The erasing mechanism includes a receptacle I9 located directly underthe pressure roll B9. It is provided withacurved top which contacts thesaid Vpressure-roll through an aperture in the cover. plate I1. Thisreceptacle is intended to contain Va solvent suitable'to dissolve theink or other material to be erased from the cards. The receptacle I9 isalso provided with a filling plug 65, and a wick 65 which is at leastpartially immersed in the solvent and which is held in place within aYtube 51 in such a manner as to cause the upper end of the wick tocontact the under side of the ribbon 68, the wick drawing up the solventby capillary attraction and moistening the ribbon as it passes over it.The ribbon spools 69 are so designed as to permit the end of the ribbonto be hooked or otherwise attached to the cylindrical core of the spool.The spool 69 has a central hole 10 on each end designed to receivetrunnions, and also two other small holes 1I adapted to receive two pinsby which the spool is rotated. The spool from which the ribbon isunwound is mounted between two brackets, each of which is provided witha trunnion 16 adapted to engage the central hole 'Ill of the spool. Oneof these brackets 'I2 is made of stiff metal and the other, 13, ofspring metal and can be bent back to permit the insertion of the spoolB9. The spool 14 is the same as spool 69 but is mounted differently.Journaled in the septum I8 is a ratchet 15 which is provided with atrunnion 16 and two pins 11 adapted to engage the corresponding holes inthe spool. The mounting bracket on the other side of the spool 14 is ofspring metal and has a trunnion 15 to engage the other side of thespool. actuated by the pawl 18 which is mounted on and actuated by thelever 55. The said ratchet is prevented from unwinding by the pawl 19.The pawl 13 is held in position against the ratchet by the spring 89.

The card stop and release consists of the upper ends of the lever 18,which being mounted on the levers rise and fall through an aperture inthe cover plate I1, engaging or disengaging with the edges of the cardsI4.

In the modified form of the erasing mechanism shown in Figure 11, theribbon, spools and spool-holders are omitted. Also the ratchet 15, pawl19 and the lower part of the lever 18 are omitted. In place of having areceptacle such as the tank I9 for the solvent, a drum is substituted.The drum 82 is located directly under the pressure-roll 68 and consistsof a cylinder 84 having very small perforations but with solid ends, andhaving its periphery covered with an absorbent material 83, such asfelt, which becomes moistened with the solvent. The drum 82 is designedto contain a solvent such as would be used with the tank I9. A fillingplug is also provided. The drum 82 has trunnions 86 which are journaledin the `septums I8 and the drum is rotated by the belt 85 acting on thepulley 81. The belt 85 is driven by the pulley 88 as shown in Figure 1.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The machine having been assembled as shown and described, the solventreceptacle supplied and the ribbon in place, the cards on which theerasure is to be made are placed in the card holder 25 with the darkspot and gures on the underside or next to the cover plate I1. On

starting the motor the pulleys and belts, or the pulleys and gear drive,set in motion the lower feed-rolls 3| and 3Ia, and the intermittentfeedroll 22. The belt drive to the cam 59 or to the disc 92 and pin 63,set these elements in motion and with each revolution raise the leverd5, which in turn depresses the lever 55 and the intermittent feed-roll22. The card stop lever 18 is raised holding the cards in the holder.When the cam 59, or the disc 62, has made a half-revolution the lever 46is depressed, the card stop lever 18 withdrawn downwardly suflicientlyto release one card, and the intermittent feed-roll 22 raised, thuscontacting the underside of the bot- The ratchet 15 is i tom card in theholder 2D. The rotation of the feed-roll 22 bearing against the bottomcard feeds the card forward, and in its passage engages the feed-rolls25 and 3|. 'I'he card also passes between the pressure-roll and theribbon 68. The mechanism is so timed in relation to the speed of thecard feed and the rotation of the cam that When the dark spot andfigures on the underside of the card almost reach the pressure-roll andribbon, the cam has raised the lever 46, and by means of the link 59 andthe lever 58 has depressed the pressure-roll 60 so that considerablepressure is exerted between the card and the moist ribbon. The outerfeed-rolls 25a and 3|a have then gripped the card and pulled it betweenthe pressure-roll and the ribbon, the pressure causing the moisture inthe ribbon to erase the light colored gures from the card. At the sametime when the pressure-roll 60 is depressed the intermittent feed-roll22 is also depressed and the card stop 18 raised, thus preventing thesecond card from leaving the holder until the next half-revolution ofthe cam raised the pressure-roll.

The operation of the modied method of erasing by means of a solvent drumis that the drum 82 is rotated continuously with the solvent moistenedfelt covering 83 contacting the bottom of the cards as they passthrough.

`What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of preparing cards for use in a machine of the classdescribed, said method consisting of printing an area on said cards withink which when dry is non-absorbent, and printing on the said area witha suitable substance which is adapted to be erased by the application ofa suitable solvent applied by a machine simultaneously with mechanicalpressure.

2. An erasing process consisting of coating a pre-determined area oncards with a moistureproof medium, placing on said area superimposedcharacters or numerals consisting of a non-penetrating pigment, anderasing from said cards and predetermined moisture-proof area the saidcharacters or numerals, the erasure being accomplished as by a machineadapted to exert fric-l tion combined with the application of a solventadapted to remove said pigment.

3. An erasing process consisting of machine coating a pre-determinedarea on cards with a moisture-proof medium by means of a machine,placing on said area characters or numerals by means of anon-penetrating pigment applied by said machine, and erasing from saidcards, one at a time as by the use of said machine, the said charactersor numerals, the erasure being accomplished by combined friction and theap-` plication of a solvent adapted to remove said pigment.

4. A process for erasing pigmented characters or numerals which havebeen placed on a moisture-proof area of cards, said process consistingof the use as by a machine to apply solvent combined With friction tosaid area of each card for the purpose of erasing said pigmentedcharacters or numerals.

EVERETT W. BILLINGS, JR.

